Monday, October 27, 2014

Cypriots, Pregnancy, And Recouped Losses

The other night, San Geraldo and I drank coffee and had our fortunes told. San Geraldo was told something about a second home ... or selling a home ... or a move. (Noooooo!!!) The good news is that he's about to recoup some losses. Now, that would be nice.

My grounds indicated that I was creative and that I either already have or am soon to have some pain in a toe. Important to know.

Oh, I was also told I have a pregnancy in my own personal future. Yes, that's what he said.

This all happened at a charming restaurant in our friend Kristina's neighborhood called La Cocina Del Cipriota, Taberna Griega (The Cypriot's Kitchen, Greek Tavern). The "coffee grounds reader" is the owner of the restaurant, which has been in Fuengirola for 30 years.

The food was excellent, as was the atmosphere and service. And it was fun for a change to be in a neighborhood away from the beach, the street vendors, and the tourists. We plan to go back often.

We arranged to meet Kristina as she finished her evening walk with Elliot and Ukko — her two dogs (one belongs to her aunt). We went upstairs and enjoyed drinks on their balcony as we watched the sunset over the mountains, the historic hillside town of Mijas in the distance.

AS WE SAT ON KRISTINA'S BALCONY.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE.)

We three then headed over to the restaurant just a couple of blocks away. It wasn't easy to leave our two new pals. Ukko is a year old and acts like a puppy. Elliot is 7 and, when it comes to Ukko, he can be a bit of a curmudgeon. I'm sure I caught him rolling his eyes a couple of times. Elliot is clearly the boss.

KRISTINA'S DOG:  SWEDISH ELLIOT.
SPANISH UKKO (WITH A FINNISH NAME).
KRISTINA AND ELLIOT.
THE UNSAINTLY SAN GERALDO CAN NOW ORDER THIS FOR HIMSELF IN SPANISH:
"A LARGE CHOCOLATE SAUCE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ICE CREAM."
SAN GERALDO'S HANDS ARE UNUSUALLY LARGE.
THIS WAS A GINORMOUS PARFAIT GLASS. 
ANOTHER OF THE EVENING'S MANY HIGHLIGHTS:  MY TAN JEANS, BROWN  SHIRT,
AND BLACK SHOES MATCHED THE RESTAURANT'S BATHROOM DECOR.
(CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED.)

Now, back to the grounds: 
To have our coffee grounds read, we first had to place the saucer atop the coffee cup and flip it over (once we had finished our coffee). I was a bit anxious about this step since, in my book, it qualified as cooking. Oh, yes it did! But I managed on my own — which did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by San Geraldo. We then had to cover the flipped cup with a hand for five minutes. Our host then sat down and read the results.

SAN GERALDO WAS TAKING NO CHANCES.
TOO MUCH PRESSURE FOR SAN GERALDO.
MY CREATIVE HAND.
OUR HOST "READING" ME.
MY SAUCER WAS MESSIER THAN SAN GERALDO'S.  I REALLY HATE TO COOK!

When San Geraldo was told about recouped losses, Kristina, being Swedish, did not know what that meant. I explained it meant to recover or gain back something that was lost (like most of our money). Unfortunately, to San Geraldo it means it's time for him to head back to the casino.

As for my preganancy, I was told that could mean the birth of a new venture. And here I thought I was about to make millions. Pregnant? At my age?


I should have gone back to my friend the witch doctor...

30 comments:

  1. Next time I must have the coffee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristina:
      Good idea. Who knows, maybe there's another pregnancy in YOUR future!

      Delete
  2. Thank goodness, Mitchell. Breastfeeding can be exhausting and painful; I was worried for you.
    San Geraldo is my hero. You are too, for having picked a choco-fiend.
    Love the song. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robyn:
      I didn't mention that I, too, had dessert. Vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, and a CHOCOLATE BROWNIE. All drizzled in CHOCLATE SAUCE.

      Delete
  3. Perhaps the pregnancy is feline-related in some way? As for the pain in the toe, I hope you are not gout-prone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Travis:
      Two neutered male cats...

      As for the painful toe, here's cynical me saying, toe pain is a common occurrence. People are always stubbing them, getting in-grown toe nails, wearing shoes that hurt them. It's a good "prediction" that would usually get a "Wow! How did you know!" (And now I'll behave myself again and not be cynical.)

      Delete
  4. haaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :)
    All smiles, I am, after reading this one :)

    Maybe recouping the losses will pertain to the debacle with the Internet service?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy:
      If that's all the "recoupment" will be, I'm not too excited.

      Delete
  5. Reading coffee grounds.....never heard of that. Tea leaves I have heard of.
    This all sounded like a good time, Mitchell. So happy you are not pregnant!! That would have been a chore!
    Now, let's examine that chocolate sauce sundae!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      I had a chocolate brownie that night. Really good... as were the ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce that came with it. Reading coffee grounds is a tradition in many countries (especially those where Turkish coffee is consumed). I'm not a "believer" but it was a lot of fun. And I behaved myself and didn't make any cynical comments -- during or after.

      Delete
  6. I've heard of tea leaves being read but I didn't know the future could be divined from coffee grounds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      Coffee grounds, tea leaves, the palms of your hands, Ouija boards, Punxsutawney Phil... So many sure-fire ways to divine the future.

      Delete
  7. Tea leaves maybe, but coffee grounds? Did they do a palm reading as well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda:
      I'm surprised by how many people had never heard of reading coffee grounds.... especially when it's 100 percent guaranteed (that you've just probably consumed a strong cup of Turkish coffee).

      I think we'll have to go to a Eurasian restaurant of some kind to have our palms read. Then again, when we lived in Santa Barbara, California, we regularly drove by a little house with a sign out front that read, "Natural Born Palm Reader." I don't know if that was as oppposed to an "Un-Natural Born Palm Reader."

      Delete
  8. Do they read the grounds on the saucer or in the cup? Or both? Did you put de lime in de coconut and drink them bot' up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walt the Fourth:
      They read the grounds in the cup.

      And, yes, I did. And den I feel bettah!

      Delete
  9. SO glad you aren't preggers, maternity fashions wouldn't suit you at all! I laughed at the video, it's been years since I heard that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline:
      I think my long legs and broad shoulders would enable me to carry off maternity fashion quite well!

      Delete
  10. I was worried about the pregnancy scare. I thought, for a moment, that Dudo or Moose had found an escape route off the terrace and knocked up a neighbor kitty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      No worries. Dudo and Moose are nutless wonders.

      Delete
  11. I was about to ask you if you'd decided on a name yet but, reading on, my hopes were dashed - as were yours, surely. Otherwise I'd have suggested 'Jesus' as being most appropriate, and I'm sure you've met a lot of such named in Espana (or is that more a Latin American trait?).

    Btw: Okko and Elliot both get my thumbs-up approval, big time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      I fell in love with those dogs. Really, really sweet. As for names, Jesus is not uncommon here. As a matter of fact, one night in Sevilla we went out to dinner with our friend Tere, her brother José, and their friend Jesus. Tere's real name is Maria Teresa.

      So we dined with Jesus, Maria, and José (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)!

      Delete
  12. Glad to hear you are not "pregnant" - you would have had some explaining to do! Although you might have gotten away with eating all the chocolate you could want...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      No excuses needed ... for the chocolate.

      Delete
  13. Mitchell it is a great post but the dog the Swedish dog is lovely..Wow, what a fantastic song I have never heard it before..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      Elliot is very strangely shaped, too. I'll have to get a full-view photo next time.

      Delete
  14. I thought you had your tubes tied?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your cats are fixed, right? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      Absolutely! Although Moose has been doing an awful lot of nesting lately. And Dudo keeps crawling into dark corners like somethings about to happen. Hmmmm...

      Delete

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